Strategic orientation, economic resilience, and technological leadership – A European dialogue on the new world order
Under the motto “Rough New World – Navigating Through Insecurities”, the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) convened leading figures from politics, business, and science at the Salzburg Summit 2025 to discuss Europe’s position in an increasingly uncertain world. In an era of global tensions, economic disruptions, and technological upheaval, the debates centered on strategic sovereignty, security, and future-oriented investment.
Alongside numerous panels, interviews and conversations with David Petraeus (former CIA Director), Christian Lindner (former German Finance Minister), Joschka Fischer (former German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister), and Nicușor Dan (President of Romania) addressed core issues of security, financing, and global power shifts. The two-day conference program was complemented by “Deep Dives” into topics such as cutting bureaucracy, media, artificial intelligence, and transatlantic politics.
A Compass for Europe: Strategic Sovereignty and Clear Direction
Georg Knill, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), opened the conference with the words:
“Welcome to the Rough New World. A world without fixed axes, without reliable frameworks, where uncertainty has become the new constant. More than ever, Europe needs a clear compass – founded on freedom, responsibility, innovation, openness, and economic strength. Not to drift along, but to set its own course.”
Governor Karoline Edtstadler and Kristina Hammer, President of the Salzburg Festival, welcomed the more than 650 participants in Salzburg.
Global Uncertainties in Focus
In his Special Address, Johannes Hahn, former EU Budget Commissioner, emphasized that with its long-term financial framework until 2034, the European Commission had outlined a realistic and forward-looking course.
In the subsequent opening panel, Benjamin Haddad (French Minister for European Affairs), Nemanja Starović (Serbian Minister for European Affairs), Austrian Minister for Europe Claudia Plakolm, and Gerhard Zeiler (President International at Warner Bros.), moderated by David Bach (President of IMD), discussed how the EU could regain global agency through reduced dependencies, strategic partnerships, and values-based foreign policy.
David Petraeus painted a stark picture of a world in flux: unilateralism replacing multilateralism, hyper-nationalism crowding out globalization, fear replacing optimism, and the post-Cold War geopolitical stability coming to an end.
Defense, Energy, Raw Materials: Europe’s Economic Foundation for Security
The second discussion round focused on how Europe’s “wake-up call” in security policy could be transformed into long-term strategies. Victor Fedeli (Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario, Canada), Maciej Witucki (President of the Polish Employers’ Federation Lewiatan), and David Bach debated defense capabilities, political unity, and the balance between strength and openness.
This was followed by a discussion on the economic foundations of strategic autonomy with Nicola Beer (Vice-President of the European Investment Bank), Markus Beyrer (Director General of BusinessEurope), Michael Strugl (CEO Verbund AG), and Valerie Brunner (Executive Board Member, Raiffeisen Bank International). The key takeaways: security is the basis of prosperity and requires long-term investments; energy must not become a weapon; and critical raw materials need to be secured and processed – through diversification, new trade agreements, and a stronger industrial base.
Christian Lindner on Europe’s Reform Needs
In conversation with Corinna Milborn, former German Finance Minister Christian Lindner criticized Europe’s economic policies of recent years as being overly focused on regulation, redistribution, and subsidies. Debt-financed investment programs, he argued, are a risky “bet on the future” that can only be sustained through profound reforms:
“Debt is only prosperity brought forward – real prosperity must be earned.”
Life Sciences as a Key Industry and Europe’s Innovation Opportunity
At the Life Sciences Panel, experts highlighted Europe’s potential to become a global leader in biotechnology – provided decisive action is taken now.
Edward T. McMullen (former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein) and Wolfram Schmidt (President, Head of Europe, Biogen International GmbH) pointed to major opportunities in closer transatlantic cooperation, noting that while the U.S. remains strong, it is currently losing momentum.
State Secretary Alexander Pröll and Martin Hetzer (President of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, ISTA) called for targeted reforms, faster implementation, and better transfer of research into market-ready innovation.
Media, Bureaucracy, and Trump: Deep Dives into Societal and Political Change
The day concluded with several Deep Dives:
- A KSW-led discussion on dealing with bureaucracy and sustainability requirements.
- Henry Olsen (Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington D.C.) analyzed the political realignment of the U.S. under Donald Trump and its global implications.
- A media panel explored the future of media at the intersection of technological disruption, trust, and business models.
The program was rounded off by a cultural tour, “Industry meets Culture,” offering historical insights into the Salzburg Festival.
Digital Transformation and Geopolitical Responsibility: Europe’s Responses to a Changed World
The second day of the Salzburg Summit 2025 began with a Technology Breakfast presented by A1, under the title “Global Dynamics, European Responses.”
Thomas Arnoldner (Deputy CEO, A1 Group) and Martin Kocher (former Austrian Minister of Economy) discussed the geopolitical challenges in the digital sphere and how Europe must respond technologically and economically. Central themes included strategic sovereignty, building digital infrastructures, and strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity against global players.
In the subsequent Executive Interview, Joschka Fischer (former German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister) offered a sharp analysis of Europe’s geopolitical responsibility in an increasingly unstable world, in conversation with Rainer Nowak (CEO, Die Presse).
The final panel addressed the role of artificial intelligence for Europe’s competitiveness. In dialogue with Thomas Zimpfer (Managing Director, B&C Group), Georg Kopetz (CEO TTTech), Lars Reger (CTO NXP), Andreas Urschitz (CMO Infineon), and Alwine Mohnen (Professor, Technical University of Munich) emphasized that while Europe has an excellent industrial and research base, it needs more entrepreneurial drive and willingness to invest in order to remain competitive globally.
The morning closed with a keynote by Nicușor Dan (President of Romania), highlighting the importance of bilateral economic relations and the necessity of stronger European cooperation.
Strategic Orientation, Economic Resilience, and Technological Leadership
The 6th Salzburg Summit 2025 powerfully demonstrated that Europe cannot afford to wait in an increasingly fragmented and unpredictable world – it must actively shape its future. Security, economic strength, and technological innovation were presented not as contradictions, but as key prerequisites for agency and stability.
The many impulses from politics, business, and science underscored a clear message: if Europe harnesses its strengths, pursues reforms boldly, and strategically leverages partnerships, it can not only respond to uncertainty but also become a global compass in this “Rough New World.”
Supporters and Partners
An event of this scale is only possible thanks to its supporters. Among the partners were Audi, the Austrian Pharmaceutical Industry Association (Pharmig), ATOS, the Austrian Bankers’ Association, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien AG, Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich AG, Raiffeisenverband Salzburg eGen, A1, Verbund AG, Google, the B&C Group, Palfinger, SKY Austria, as well as the Chamber of Tax Advisors and Auditors (KSW).
As in previous years, ÖBB served as the mobility partner. The Summit was also supported with products from café+co.
In 2025, we are especially pleased to have McKinsey & Company, BusinessEurope, the Peter Drucker Forum, and the Salzburg Europe Summit as strategic partners.
More information on the Salzburg Summit can be found at www.salzburgsummit.com.